OK the first one is not Crocosmia (which is the current name for Montbretia so they are the same). Crocosmia has lighter green leaves with less shine because they are more textured, and the leaves appear to come out of the ground from a sort of dark casing. Nor is it Agapanthus whose leaf tips are always rounded. My best guess is Iris foetidissima but it could also be another sort of Iris such as I. unguicularis which flowers in winter with amazing purply blue flowers, or something entirely different if she was into alpines.
No. 2 is Vinca minor. Lesser Periwinkle. It will absolutely not take over your garden but it is a ground cover which densely covers the soil. You need either to let it have its head within a defined border or to take it out altogether really. But it has lovely flowers and as ground covers go, is one of the better ones. Certainly not a weed. Maybe wait and let it flower before you get rid of it?
I've googled iris foedtidissima and you're right it does look like it. Didn't get the seed heads over winter though. Thanks cambridgerose and nut cutlet. Also vinca minor, not sure whether I can wait till it flowers it really has almost completely taken over one border. And looks really hard to get rid of.
Vinca minor. Otherwise known as that d##n weed in our house. I grow it in extremely dry, shady clay soil at the base of a north facing wall. That way I only need to cut it back three times a year, and hunt for escaping roots once a year.
OTOH, it certainly provides ground cover and the flowers are elegant. As long as you are firm about its boundaries its worth keeping.
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OK the first one is not Crocosmia (which is the current name for Montbretia so they are the same). Crocosmia has lighter green leaves with less shine because they are more textured, and the leaves appear to come out of the ground from a sort of dark casing. Nor is it Agapanthus whose leaf tips are always rounded. My best guess is Iris foetidissima but it could also be another sort of Iris such as I. unguicularis which flowers in winter with amazing purply blue flowers, or something entirely different if she was into alpines.
No. 2 is Vinca minor. Lesser Periwinkle. It will absolutely not take over your garden but it is a ground cover which densely covers the soil. You need either to let it have its head within a defined border or to take it out altogether really. But it has lovely flowers and as ground covers go, is one of the better ones. Certainly not a weed. Maybe wait and let it flower before you get rid of it?
I agree Iris foetidissima, a plant for a wild garden (mine) not a rockery. Self seeded I should think
In the sticks near Peterborough
I've googled iris foedtidissima and you're right it does look like it. Didn't get the seed heads over winter though. Thanks cambridgerose and nut cutlet. Also vinca minor, not sure whether I can wait till it flowers it really has almost completely taken over one border. And looks really hard to get rid of.
Vinca minor. Otherwise known as that d##n weed in our house. I grow it in extremely dry, shady clay soil at the base of a north facing wall. That way I only need to cut it back three times a year, and hunt for escaping roots once a year.
OTOH, it certainly provides ground cover and the flowers are elegant. As long as you are firm about its boundaries its worth keeping.